Pat McAfee's praise for the Browns' new stadium plans has ignited a firestorm online. While he celebrated the team's vision, some fans expressed frustration and even shame over the decision, while others were happy about the small wins.

The Browns are going to ditch Huntington Bank Field on the downtown lakefront in the coming years. Their lease on the current stadium runs through the end of the 2028 NFL season.

But they are also building a new home with a budget of 2.4 billion. The stadium is going to feature a 6,500-seat Dawg Pound Stand that will become the NFL’s steepest section when it opens in 2029.

Sports Business Journal posted about it on X. That's when Pat McAfee decided to respond to it.

"I love it… the encouragement from the folks all around you to fully embrace the environment and be a weapon for your team. It empowers LOUD… it’s why good Student Sections are awesome."

The site is located near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. In June 2025, the Browns officially purchased approximately 176 acres of land there for roughly $76 million.

However, the post invited some mixed feedback about the team's decision to move away.

NFL Fans Divided Over Pat McAfee's Comments

One fan said, "Not including the Dawg Pound would have been a horrible idea." The Dawg Pound was one of the most iconic sections of the old stadium. They rallied the defense and roared them on from the crowds. Without them, the Browns wouldn't feel like one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Another comment read, "A great student section isn’t just noise. It’s pressure. It’s momentum. It’s belief you can feel in your chest. That kind of environment doesn’t just hype a team it transforms them." This fan definitely wants the cheers of 6,500 fans from the Dawg Pound to be converted into a motivation for the team.

But some are also negative about it. One fan said, "Are you excited for every NFL team’s stadium to look the same in 15 years?" They might be talking about the closed stadium. As of the most recent season, around 10 of the NFL’s 30 existing stadiums have a roof of some kind.

"It’s a shame it’s a dome in the middle of nowhere. I want to watch football outdoors on the lake". The new stadium is their new stadium in Brook Park, Ohio, a suburb just southwest of Cleveland.

One user said, "lol you complete corporate stooge. The fans that will be in those seats will not be the same fans that have been in the dawg pound for the 25yrs, and they d*** sure wont be the fans that were in the real dawg pound in the old Browns stadium. it will be a Puppy Pound". And he is not the only fan to be like that.

NFL legend and Cleveland native Jason Kelce also voiced out because the stadium is far away from the city. He said that he understands that the Browns want to make money, but he is not in favor of the stadium moving, just like a lot of veteran fans. Another fan followed the same sentiment that the stadium was not for the fans.

They said, "Unfortunately, you are wrong, the only people that they're putting first are themselves! If they were putting fans first they would keep the stadium where it is!" What do you think?

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar